The short of it
The HP Spectre isn’t the James Bond of laptops – it’s the Kanye West. It’s a brash, bold and worthy alternative to the MacBook Air.
Why do I care?
Windows PCs have lagged behind Apple’s MacBook series in the looks department for years – until now.
If you care about design, and can’t bear Apple, look no further.
How does it work?
There’s a lot to like, but little to get excited about, especially compared to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4.
Instead you’ll find a polished, solid and dependable 13” laptop, with Bang & Olufsen speakers and a market-leading display.
Compared to a MacBook Air?
Imagine your MacBook Air dropped a dress size and glammed up for the night – that’s the HP Spectre.
At just 10mm thick, the svelte Spectre has lost weight in all the right places, compared to Apple’s portly 17mm MacBook Air.
Jokes aside, it feels noticably lighter, making it perfect for business travellers.
Who’s it for?
HP describes this flagship as “more artisan than manufactured”, think style-consious professionals who appreciate something a little different.
The design is refreshing, but blingy and bordering on feminine. While it’s old fashioned to typecast a device as “for women” – we know there are still a lot of men who’d be embarassed to get this out at a meeting.
Downsides?
The hinge is encased in a distinctive gold band (or Ash Luxe Copper, in HP’s words). It’s a fingerprint magnet and in our tests, failed to keep the screen still
How much?
Starting at around £1,000 in the UK, the Spectre is priced to compete against the MacBook Air.
Our take
This is a well priced, solid and dependable alternative to the MacBook Air.
But without a touchscreen or tablet mode, the HP Spectre left us shaken, but not stirred
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